Howie Mandel's Animals Doing Things Full Episode | Beauty and the Wildebeest | @natgeokids

Key Concepts

• Animals Doing Things: The central theme of the show, showcasing animals engaging in various activities.
• Viewer Submissions: A significant source of content for the show, with clips submitted by viewers.
• 7 Figure Club: A designation for viewer-submitted clips that have achieved over 1 million views.
• Seal vs. Sea Lion Distinction: Key identifying features, particularly ear flaps and locomotion on land.
• Cat Predatory Instinct: The innate hunting behavior in domestic cats, triggered by movement.
• Prey Drive: The instinctual drive in cats to hunt, which spikes around 16 weeks of age.
• Wilderbeast Migration: A massive annual overland migration of over 1.5 million wildebeest and zebras in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Pet Expenditures: The significant financial investment Americans make in their pets.
• Animal Trivia/Games: Interactive segments designed to test viewer knowledge about animals.
• Stump Howie: A segment where viewers can challenge Howie Mandel with animal trivia.

Howie Mandel's Animals Doing Things: Episode Summary

This episode of "Howie Mandel's Animals Doing Things" showcases a variety of animal behaviors and provides educational insights, often with a humorous twist. The show features viewer-submitted clips, expert commentary, and interactive segments.

Common Dog Yoga Mistakes

The show opens with a lighthearted segment on common dog yoga mistakes, humorously illustrating what "down dog" should and should not look like.

Viewer Submitted Clips: The 7 Figure Club

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to highlighting viewer-submitted clips that have achieved "7 figure club" status, meaning they have garnered over 1 million views. One such clip features a monkey cleaning itself, which is met with amusement and congratulations.

Marine Scientist Explains Seals vs. Sea Lions

Marine scientist April Bole provides a clear explanation on how to differentiate between seals and sea lions.

• Key Differentiating Features:
  • Ear Flaps: Sea lions have visible external ear flaps, while seals do not.
  • Locomotion on Land: Seals "scurry" on their bellies, whereas sea lions can "walk" on their flippers.
• Vocalization: Sea lions are described as very vocal, barking loudly and often sounding like they are "yelling" due to various needs (e.g., hunger, fear, seeking their mother).
• Odor: Sea lions are noted for their strong, "concentrated fish" smell, making them potentially "horrible roommates."

Cat Behaviorist on Hunting Instincts

Cat behaviorist Michelle Negle Schneider discusses the predatory instincts of domestic cats.

• Trigger for Hunting: Moving prey or even a moving hand can trigger a cat's predatory instinct.
• Innate Behavior: All house cats are described as miniature versions of tigers and jaguars, possessing an ingrained hunting behavior or "prey drive."
• Kitten Development: A significant spike in prey drive is observed in kittens around 16 weeks of age, often leading to relentless behavior that can be challenging for owners. This behavior typically improves by 5-6 months.
• Solitary Hunters: Cats are solitary hunters, unlike dogs who rely on packs, necessitating them to be highly effective hunters.
• Importance of Exhausting Prey Drive: It is beneficial for cats to perform natural hunting behaviors (stalk, chase, grab, bite, pounce, kill bite) in the home to exhaust their prey drive and ensure they are happy.

Animal Antics and Facts

The episode features a montage of various animal clips, including:

• A goat riding a horse.
• A cat that appears to be "casting a spell."
• A dog wearing a cone, humorously depicted as needing a different type of cone.
• A preview of upcoming segments: dressed-up dogs, a turtle that can help move, and a wilderbeast vacation.

Animal Trivia: Giraffe Facts

A trivia segment tests viewers' knowledge about giraffes.

• Question: Which statement about giraffes is true?
  • A. Giraffes have two hearts.
  • B. Giraffes sleep more than 16 hours a day.
  • C. Giraffes only need to drink once every several days.
  • D. It takes a week for newborns to stand.
• Answer: C. Giraffes only need to drink once every several days. They obtain most of their water from the leaves they consume.

The Wilderbeast Migration Minute

This segment provides detailed information about the wildebeest migration.

• Location: Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Etymology: The name "wildebeest" comes from the Afrikaans word for "wild beast."
• Classification: Wildebeest are part of the antelope family.
• Speed: They can run up to 50 mph.
• Distinctive Features: Known for their horns, beards, and long faces.
• The Migration:
  • Scale: Over 1.5 million wildebeest and many zebras participate.
  • Purpose: Driven by the need for food, following rainfall to find fresh, green grasses.
  • Route: They migrate annually from the southern plains of Tanzania northward into Kenya and then back down to Tanzania.
  • Timing:
    • January-February: Plains of Tanzania.
    • Late Spring: Head north following rainfall.
    • Late Summer/Early Fall: In Kenya.
    • November: Rains lead them back to Tanzania.
  • Distance: The journey covers approximately 1,000 miles.

Animal Reflections: Meerkats

A brief segment on meerkats, noting they are members of the mongoose family and live in groups of up to 40.

More Animal Antics and Segments

The episode continues with more humorous and interesting animal clips:

• A "Turtle Table" segment, implying a turtle that moves quickly.
• A search for a lost remote control, with a dog seemingly involved.
• A preview of a moody guinea pig, a squirrel in a wig, and a pet pianist.

Animals by the Numbers: Pet Spending

Another trivia segment focuses on pet expenditures.

• Question: How much money did Americans spend on their pets in 2017?
  • A. $24 billion
  • B. $37 billion
  • C. $52 billion
  • D. $69 billion
• Answer: D. $69 billion.
• Data: Pet expenditures have risen by nearly 50% since 2007, according to an American Pet Products Association owner survey.

Featured Clips and Commentary

The show revisits some of the featured clips with additional commentary:

• Tumbelini: A guinea pig styled with a wig, described as looking "very 80s."
• Moody Guinea Pig: A segment showing a guinea pig refusing to participate, repeatedly saying "No."
• Alex Mandel's Animal Fact: Howie's son, Alex, shares that Canadian geese can cover 1,500 miles in a single day under the right conditions.

Stump Howie: Pig Trivia

Dr. Crony from Purdue University challenges Howie Mandel with a trivia question.

• Question: What is a group of pigs called?
• Howie's Answer: "Slobs."
• Correct Answer: "A sounder." Dr. Crony suggests the term relates to the noise a group of pigs makes.

Final Clips and Sign-off

The episode concludes with:

• A humorous clip of cats meowing in unison.
• A joke about identifying dogs from New York by their driving.
• A segment of pets swinging on a rope, with a humorous note about vertigo.
• Howie Mandel signs off, thanking the audience.

Synthesis/Conclusion

"Howie Mandel's Animals Doing Things" offers a lighthearted and informative exploration of the animal kingdom. The episode effectively blends entertainment through viewer-submitted clips and humorous commentary with educational content from experts on animal behavior and biology. Key takeaways include practical advice on distinguishing seals from sea lions, understanding feline hunting instincts, and appreciating the scale and drivers of the wildebeest migration. The show also highlights the significant financial commitment people have to their pets and engages viewers with interactive trivia segments. The overarching theme is the joy and fascination derived from observing animals in their diverse and often surprising activities.